Genus Cryptopone (Ponerinae)

• Cryptopone Emery, 1893a: cclxxv. Type species: Cryptopone testacea Emery, by monotypy. Also described as new by Emery, 1893h: 240. Type species not Amblyopone testacea Motschoulsky (see Wilson, 1958g: 360).

• OVERVIEW.   Most species of this genus are found in Southeast Asia and vicinity. Only one apparently endemic species occurs in the United States. The colonies are small (fewer than 100 workers), and nests are usually found in soil under rocks or in rotten logs. Little is known of their biology, but they are believed to be subterranean foragers. The small spines on the outer tibiae of the middle legs are thought to improve traction as workers forage through narrow passages in soil or rotten wood (Shattuck, 1999. Australian Ants: 183).
• DISTRIBUTION.   Southeastern USA.
• ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS.  Neotropical, Nearctic, Palearctic, Afrotopical, Oriental, Indo-Australian, Australasian.


      
Photo of Cryptopone gilva (Roger) from AR, Franklin Co.. Courtesy of Ant Web, U. of Calif. Davis


• RECOGNITION.   Length 2-4 mm. Mandible with a small, oval, pit-like depression on the dorsolateral surface near the insertion into the head. (This is best seen from below and to the side of the mandibles. Carefully adjusting the lighting may help highlight the small pit.) Frontal carinae close together posteriorly; anterior sections of frontal lobes and antennal insertions are very close together. Eye small. Tibia of the mid leg with spine-like bristles on outer surface. Mid and hind tibiae with two apical spurs: one large and pectinate and the other smaller and simple. Tarsal claw simple.
• SIMILAR GENERA.   The genera Cryptopone, Hypoponera, Pachycondyla, and Ponera have the same overall body shape, and they are often confused with each other. Cryptopone is unique within this group in having a small pit on the mandible near the insertion into the head and the tarsal segment of the middle leg has spine-like bristles.
• TRIBE.  Ponerini.
• TAXONOMY.   Smith, M.R. 1947f: 538 (figure of w. (as Euponera (Trachymesopus) gilva)) .— Wilson, 1958g: 357–361 (Melanesia) .— Brown, W.L. 1963a: 6 (description of w.q.m.) .— Bolton, 1994: figs. 485, 486 (SEM (full face and lateral view) of w.) .—Shattuck, 1999: 182–183.—Bolton, 2003: 44, 161, 281.
• ALL REFERENCES

• gilva. Ponera gilva Roger, 1863a: 170 (w.) . ["North America"; No types in USA.] Creighton & Tulloch, 1930: 74, figs. 1–3 (q.m., figure, lateral view, w.q.m.) . Combination in Pachycondyla (Pseudoponera): Emery, 1901b: 46; in Euponera (Trachymesopus): Emery, 1911e: 86; in Trachymesopus: Kempf, 1960f: 424; in Cryptopone: Brown, W.L. 1963a: 3.
• harnedi. Euponera (Trachymesopus) gilva subsp. harnedi Smith, M.R. 1929c: 543 (w.) . [USA, MS, (Columbus)] Synonymy: Creighton & Tulloch, 1930: 74.

• DISTRIBUTION. Southeastern USA and TX.
• LITERATURE OVERVIEW. See Smith, M.R. 1934d: 561 for a description of the worker and Haskins, 1931 for the natural history.
• TAXONOMY. Emery, 1895d: 266–267, pl. 8, fig. 10 (description of w., figures (lateral view) of mesosoma and petiole of w. (as Ponera gilva)) .— Wheeler, W.M. & Gaige, 1920: 69–72 (description of w. as Euponera (Trachymesopus) .— Smith, M.R. 1934d: 558, 561–563 (description of w. (from Wheeler, W.M. & Gaige, 1920), distribution, brief natural history, as Euponera (Trachymesopus) gilva) .— Smith, M.R. 1943e: fig. 4G (figure of hind tibia of m. (as Euponera (Trachymesopus)) .— Smith, M.R. 1947f: pl. 4, fig. 13 (figure (lateral view) of w., as Euponera (Trachymesopus) gilva)) .— Creighton, 1950a: 46 (as Euponera (Trachymesopus) gilva) .— Brown, W.L. 1963a: 6 .— Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1964b: 452 (larva) .
• MISCELLANEOUS. Haskins, 1931: 507–521.— Dennis, 1938: 276 (habitat, nest sites, distribution in TN) .— Cole, A.C. 1940b: 37 (habitat, nest site) .—Van Pelt, 1958: 4–5.— Carter, 1962b: 169 (habitat, nest sites, distribution in NC) .
• ALL REFERENCES
• PHOTOS.